extra credit: My favorite assignment

My favorite writing assignment has got to be the BUFF project my sophomore year. It was a totally different experience to be able to choose the topic of my presentation, so I choose what I knew about best. The (awesome) Violin.

I am proud to say it was the coolest power point I have ever made. It also took less time than I thought it would and all I had to do for extra credit was to bring in my violin. It was exciting to teach my fellow classmates about what I was passionate about because if you don't play an instrument, you most likely aren't exposed to the same....[insert vocab word here] as I am.

For me, it's second nature to evaluate an orchestra, and critique on it's work. In fact, It's a requirement in Orchestra class. But another student might say "it was cool", or, "they sucked" without really getting anything out of the music, and they probably weren't aware of the millions of highly intellectual processes that go on in a playing instrumental group and it's conductor, courteously. But this is starting to branch off into another subject. Moving on!

In my power point, I tried to cover some cool facts about the violin, express my opinions on the subtopics, while also trying to be humorous of course! I didn't want anyone dozing off. Although I could only cover the basics of my topic, The Violin, such as naming the violin parts and what to look for in a violin, I think I have opened up some subconscious stereotypes they had about this topic, and the people who play them. At least, I really hope I did. Because for others to be mutual with a musician such as myself in understanding the thrills, the passion of a player, the constantly changing emotions, the beauty and genius of the dept of a many-layered orchestral piece, the unveiling of scenes, the rediscovering of long lost memories, the varying intensities of a tremolo, the lust to experience satisfying performances, a wanting to express oneself through a positive outlet, and realizing the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself, "...instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." -George Bernard Shaw

That quote is read aloud to us orchestra students every year on the first day of school. No, it doesn't mean Mr. Schooler is a communist. He's taken the quote out of context methinks, to refer to the bonded togetherness that is required in our practice. He makes sure our every nook and cranny is oiled and intelligent, because music is his love and teaching, his life. Then it is easy to work as one, music pumping through our veins, nourishing us, and every part vital to the well being of the one living body that is an orchestra.

So I know this blog got increasingly confusing to read, got off track and I started rambling at times(hopefully not the entire blog... it is late though). It is also 10:09pm. This is because this blog took a lot longer than I thought and also because I procrastinated which you may chastise me for. So I will stop right here and save you a (worse) headache. But I hope I still got the message across.
My violin is AWESOME.

.
here is a LINK to my VIOLIN powerpoint in case you wanted to check it out (-:
.
.
.

EDIT: Gosh dang it. I did the freshman honors extra credit instead...